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Botan expected for Youko to fall into his usual crouch. She was prepared to see the hurt look behind those golden orbs of his that clearly insinuated that she was a traitor. Either that or they were sure to be full of hatred for her. The only thing was that Youko didn't crouch or even try to run. His golden eyes fixated on the dagger, the look in them was somber rather than anger. His eyes moved from the blade to focus on her amethyst ones.
'Go ahead and kill me,' they seemed to say. 'Just get it over with.'
She hesitated for a moment. "I'm not going to kill you," she said softly.
"Then what's the dagger for?"
"Hold still and I'll show you." She knelt by Youko. Her fingers trailed down his neck, searching for something. "It's not around your neck…" she murmured. She moved her hand from his neck. "Take off your robe."
Youko raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
"Just the upper part. I'm not asking you to get naked," she answered calmly. "I'm looking for the homing device Touya probably attached to your skin. If you escape, he'll know where you're going."
Youko loosened his sash and pulled his arms out of the upper half of his robe.
Botan studied his muscled chest, searching for the mechanical implant. She ran her fingers down his chest to search for a bump in his flawless skin that would hide a homing device. She stopped when her fingers met an unnatural bump. "I think this is the place." She tapped the area lightly. "I need to cut it out of your skin. There's no other way to get it out."
"Go ahead."
"This might sting…" She touched the tip of the blade to his skin. She put pressure on it, sliding the blade in a semi-circle. She pried the metal out and put it on the floor. "There. It's out now." She looked at the bloody wound on Youko's chest. She chewed on her lip. "I'm not sure how I can get this cleaned up for you without Touya or Risho finding out about this."
Youko focused his Reiki on his wound, healing it in an instant.
Botan gaped at the healed-over skin. "You're able to heal your own cuts?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you want me to heal your wounds when that human male shot you?"
"Because—" Youko began in a harsh voice. He stopped and guiltily looked away.
"Because what?" Botan demanded.
"I can't tell you that…"
"And why not?"
He avoided her eyes and tugged his robe back on. "I don't want to tell you."
"You don't want to? I don't think you're in a position to argue with me." She pouted and crossed her arms.
"Fine, I'll tell you. When I had you heal my wounds, Risho had me on a mission to kill you."
"A mission to kill me?"
"It's a long story. I owed him three favors for saving my life. My last favor to him was to kill you."
She gave him a sideways look. "You lived in my house for over 4 months, but the whole time…you were trying to kill me?"
"That was my first intention, but after the way you acted around me and treated me, my intentions were better."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I told you, remember?" Youko ran his fingers through her hair, then down her cheeks. "I fell in love with you. I suppose it was a foolish thing to not kill you." A bitter smile touched his lips. "After all, I'm going to die and you don't return the love." He pulled his hand away from her face. "Your heart lies with Touya. I appreciate what you're doing for me, but I don't want to see you again. You'll get in trouble with Risho as well."
"I don't care about what Risho says! He's a jerk!" She gave him a small smile. "I do are about you…but it's just that Touya was there first and he's always been there to take care of me. You're new to my life so I have to get used to that."
Youko hid his pained expression. Clearly she didn't know what he meant. "But you don't love me as you do Touya…"
Botan blinked. She hadn't thought about it. She had never paused to seriously consider if Touya or Youko was more important to her. "I…I don't know if love Touya or not. I don't know what it's like to love." She admitted to him.
Youko opened his mouth to give an explanation but his ears picked up the sound of footsteps. "You should go. I hear someone coming," he said quickly. He watched Botan stand up gracefully and pick up the tray. He half-hoped for her to pause and possibly kiss him before she left, but of course that would be too much to hope for.
Botan walked to the kitchens, first glancing around to check for anyone. She cleaned the tray. Just as she finished washing it, she felt someone grab her around her waist. The tray dropped to the floor.
"Relax, my love," Touya purred in her ear. He massaged her shoulders to get her to take the stiffness out.
She relaxed, taking pleasure in Touya's cool, gentle touch.
"What were you doing with this tray?" the Ice Master asked. He spun the deity around to look her in the face.
"I was hungry," Botan lied quickly.
"Truly? Then why do you need a tray? You are allowed to eat in this kitchen. Have you been feeding Youko Kurama?"
She looked down at the floor. "I-I felt sorry for him. Just because he's an infamous thief doesn't mean that you and Risho should treat him like any normal prisoner," she murmured. She twisted her hands nervously. "Please don't tell Risho. I don't like being punished."
"Now now." He wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to lay her head on his shoulders. "Don't worry your pretty little head over Risho. It's my job to protect you from him and that's what I intend to do." He released her and looked into her eyes. "I don't want to see you anywhere near Youko Kurama. He's a cold-hearted fool."
"He can't be that bad," Botan argued stubbornly. "He's nicer than you think."
"I know more than you! I ran into him when I was younger. I was nearly killed! He was ordered to kill you as well. If you hadn't played your role out so well, he would have succeeded. Remember that he killed your parents."
"But he's changed. He's not the same person he was back then."
"He's a master of manipulation. He's gone this whole time hiding the fact that he's meant to kill you. Now, promise me that you'll never visit Youko Kurama without my or Risho's permission."
Botan avoided his eyes. She nodded mutely.
"That a girl." He kissed her forehead and left her in the kitchen alone.
Sorry so short. I got a writers block. Hopefully it'll pass.
::I have another YoukoxBotan fic up! It's more of a darkfic. Volpone suggested I turn my Secrets Behind Emerald Eyes into a dark YoukoxBotan fic but I decided to start a new fic. If there's any Karasu fans out there, he's going to be in it too! Please read this! I need ideas for a title too!::
Here's the people who reviewed last chapter in their respective orders! This week's acknowledgement goody is candy!
miyako14: First to review! WHOA! That's a lot of pleases! If I got bored I'd count all of them…but the problem is, the highest I can count to is 10. I think you used more than 10 'please!'. I'll try to update soon! Have some candy! Whatever kind you like!
Botan and Kurama lover: Hopefully from some teensy hints, you see that they do somewhat care for each other. Like you saw Botan ask Touya if Youko was going to die when he and Touya got in a fight. That was a hint. And Youko gaping at Botan's clothes were a hint to… either that or you could take it as Youko being perverted. Whichever. I agree though! Kurama and Botan go together! Anyone else is a little less likely. Botan and Yusuke seem possible, but I think Kurama and Botan are best. Here's some candy for your review.
LiLgUrL: I know it was evil…but I had to do it! Cliffies make sure my reviewers come back! Unless it was a bad cliffie… You're hooked on my story? Thanx! Now have some candy. It's sugary!
Tesina Gela Gardner: I know I left you hanging! Please don't kill me! J/k
DarkShadowWriter: ::blush:: That's so nice of you! Extra characters like Risho is hard to portray since we only see them in an episode of two. Thanks though! Well don't turn TOO insane waiting for more! Will candy help?
Spoonerfic: Me? Evil? Puh-leeze! I'm not evil! I just like torturing my reviewers like piggies! J/k. A cliff-hanger almost ensures people comeback to see what happen. Hopefully you now know what happened to Youko with the knife Botan was holding! Here's some candy.
KuramaandHiei4ever: Don't kill the computer! It's against…erm…. computer rights or something retarded like that. Don't go insane, k? Go insane over the candy! CANDY!!!!!!
Moonlite Goddess: Yes, I think later on I'll have some mild torturing…or less than mild, but there'll still be a happy ending. Have some candy to take your mind off of poor Youko!
Lifeless-Kanna: You always have short reviews. Do you talk a lot at home or at school? J/k! Thanks for your reviews! Have some candy!
LoneWolf7423: Yup, it's part of the plan. Here's some candy! Don't get sick on the roller coaster that I'm controlling, k?
Mourning Fox: Poor you! Here's some candy. Or would you like something else? Thanks for your review!
Nakushita: I'm a big fan of Touya's too! I simply had to have this person in at least one of my fics. I like Karasu better than Touya…don't ask…both of them got good hits on Kurama so they have to be loved! I don't think I'll kill Touya. Or maybe I will kill him and stuff him and stick him in my room! Not really. Oh, just to let you know, just because you said you'd rather have titled chapters, I'm going to come up with titles in my next YoukoxBotan fic. Here's some candy to enjoy!
Natsumi-chan: I know! I have you all hooked! It's part of my evil plan! ::evil laugh:: Here's some candy.
Nienna Whitethorn: Yes, I know I'm evil. Nearly all the reviewers have said I'm evil because of this cliff hanger. I still love you all though, so here's some candy!
sum 1 who luvs this fic!: I'm glad you didn't die either….or maybe you did die and you're typing as a ghost, but how much sense would that make! NONE! ::more evil laughs:: Take this candy and be at ease!
Tyedye/Rin: You can't hate Botan! She's just doing what she has to! Besides, she didn't kill Youko. I think Botan's the victim here, but you can hate who you want to! So here's candy!
CHiCkxOfxdArKnEsS: Wow I hope you do some reviewing often because this penname is sort of hard to type when you're in a hurry! Thanks for your review though! I feel sorry for Youko too. Have some candy.
orange09: I chose Touya because I always wanted to put different characters in it. You also said you wanted this fic to be different, and I agreed. How many KuramaxBotan fics have Touya in it? Touya's also one of my fav 'bad guys'. Karasu is my number one choice. Don't worry, I'll have some Touya and Botan scenes! Don't worry!
Jdfielding: You and Volpone are both reading my fic! That's the best thing that could happen to a person like me! Yes, I agree. Cliffhangers are fun to do. As long as the reviewers don't get serious about wanting to kill me over leaving cliffhangers… I can't help but put myself down when there's writers like you out there! ::sobs:: I'll never be as good as you, but thanx for all the nice comments! ::blush::
Like I said, thanks for reviewing and your name will be up again next time if you review this time!